Bendy Wendy

[steakbake]

Crazy bunny boiler, or smooth political operator?

[McSwanky]

Can I go for the third option: broken record?

How many times do we need to hear the line:

"We have called the SNP's bluff and they are running scared"

[Wembley67]

I take it we are not talking about insert lightbulb here Wendy then :greengrin

[McSwanky]

I take it we are not talking about insert lightbulb here Wendy then :greengrin

Have I just grasped the wrong end of the stick with both hands? :greengrin

[steakbake]

i dont know. the woman is just confusing. i think shes a broken bunny boiler record. she just doesnt know when to pipe down. her "bring it on" didnt even sound like she was particularly convinced when she said it. haha

[offshorehibby]

WA, the best thing that ever happened to the SNP and independance. Bring it on.

[SlickShoes]

WA, the best thing that ever happened to the SNP and independance. Bring it on.

Yup, there is no way shes winning any voters over with what shes doing surely, each day labour lose more votes! She must be on some sabotage mission from another party!

[TheBall'sRound]

She has single handled passed the initiative to an already powerful SNP party by allowing them to choose the time, date, venue and manner of the independence referendum.

As it is now guaranteed to come after the UK election and a probable Tory landslide, Salmond doesn't need to say "Independence, yes or no?"

He can say "What would you prefer, a Tory government in London or a socialist government in Edinburgh?"

Wendy Alexander has done more for the independence movement in the last fortnight than the SNP has done in 30 years.

Even I would seriously consider a yes vote if someone could tell me how we support ourselves after the oil and gas is exhausted.

[GlesgaeHibby]

She has single handled passed the initiative to an already powerful SNP party by allowing them to choose the time, date, venue and manner of the independence referendum.

As it is now guaranteed to come after the UK election and a probable Tory landslide, Salmond doesn't need to say "Independence, yes or no?"

He can say "What would you prefer, a Tory government in London or a socialist government in Edinburgh?"

Wendy Alexander has done more for the independence movement in the last fortnight than the SNP has done in 30 years.

Even I would seriously consider a yes vote if someone could tell me how we support ourselves after the oil and gas is exhausted.

The same way we support the UK government, by paying taxes. If we were being subsidised by the UK govt as they claim, then we would have been booted out the union a long time ago. Whisky/Oil/Gas pours a fortune into the UK treasury.

It would be tough for a few years, and some of the lazy gits that refuse to work just now would have to wake up and smell the coffee, but would work.

[toaosi]

WA, the best thing that ever happened to the SNP and independance. Bring it on.

Lucky white heather for the SNP, she is the female Jack mcConnell :thumbsup:

[Sylar]

Bendy Wendy - love it! :thumbsup:

[Part/Time Supporter]

Crazy bunny boiler, or smooth political operator?

The worst leader of a major political grouping in the last twenty years.

[GhostofBolivar]

The Scottish Labour Party are disadvantaged in that their most talented politicians are in London, while the SNP are free to focus on Holyrood (I can't name one SNP MP). There was a column in The Independent last week mentioning how pleasantly suprised senior civil servents are at how competant the SNP government is compared to their Labour predecessors. For Labour, Holyrood's a dumping ground for people Douglas Alexander and David Milliband don't want hanging around (which means they must be really dumb considering Alistair Darling). George Foulkes is a Labour MSP, for crying out loud. Wendy is a very poor leader in charge of an equally poor opposition.

Wendy is nowhere near the parlimentarian that Alex Salmond is. I'd be very suprised if she ever lays a glove on him at First Ministers Questions. He's far and away the most talented politician in the Scottish Parliament. Tony Bliar was the same. No matter how bad things got, he'd destroy the Torys at PMQs in London. Despite everything, he was the most effective parliamentary performer in the Commons. Labour wouldn't be half as badly off as they are now with Bliar in charge, purely because he'd radiate far more confidence than Brown's mob do. The other problem Alexander has is that her reputation was badly damaged by the funding scandal last year. It'd be hard for her to attack SNP sleaze when anyone can turn round and say, "What's the problem? You didn't resign when it happened to you."

That being said, I don't think it was such a bad idea to try to hammer the referendum issue - however badly it was executed. It would have helped if she had given a heads up to the rest of the party, for instance. The SNP don't want to bring the issue forward from 2010 because they'd lose a referendum today. They're much happier with the idea of a David Cameron government in Westminster trying to rein in Holyrood and stirring up anti-English feeling before a plebiscite. It'd give them a better chance to win. So trying to force the issue at a time the government are uncomfortable with isn't that bad in principle.

The thing is, Gordon Brown threw her under a bus as soon as it hit the news, totally negating any positive spin Labour could generate. Instead of it being about SNP indecision and vacillation - which is what they were looking for - the story became about Labour indecision and incoherence. It was basically screwed up by Wendy not telling anyone and Number 10 shooting it down in flames at the first opportunity. Gordon doesn't want any vote he could concievably do badly in at the moment. Which means he's played into the SNP's hands. They want the same thing. If it happens, he wants it in 2010 so it won't be his problem any more.

So now Labour are made to look very silly while they lie through their teeth in the press about how great the relationship between London and Edinburgh is. Cameron makes hay at Westminster and everyone in the Scottish Parliament gets to queue up to take bites out of Wendy.

It's been catastrophic for them.

[MyJo]

Bendy wendy is to the SNP what vladimir romanov is to the hibees :greengrin

She has promised great things to the obedient followers but has stumbled from catastrophy to chaos to downright embarrasment and appears to be bringing 'em down from the inside!!!

Independence is no longer the best option but surely the only option the way things are going. The tories are already starting their anti-scottish rumblings by pandering to the english in telling them we are basically sponging off their economy and get too much money from westminster..... So god help us when they get into power (and they will) while Labour have shown in recent weeks that they consider scotland to be a bit of a backwater, where they can allow a muppet like bendy run the show without consequences when she ******s up

[Phil D. Rolls]

Was chatting to our minister for culture in the cab a couple of weeks back. (Mrs Fabiani I think her name is).

She asked how I thought the SNP were doing, "you're not up against much" I quipped.

We then went on to discuss how Scotland needs an effective opposition. A good opposition can prevent the worst excesses of a mad government.

Thinking about it last night, I wondered - where would we be if the SNP had been as useless in opposition as Labour are now. My feeling is that asbsolutely nothing would have happened in the first eight years of devolution.

Labour haven't got a scooby what they are doing in the new Scotland. The SNP have been preparing for this for 60 years. It's a total mismatch - if it was boxing you'd ask for your money back.

[--------]

The Scottish Labour Party are disadvantaged in that their most talented politicians are in London, while the SNP are free to focus on Holyrood (I can't name one SNP MP). There was a column in The Independent last week mentioning how pleasantly suprised senior civil servents are at how competant the SNP government is compared to their Labour predecessors. For Labour, Holyrood's a dumping ground for people Douglas Alexander and David Milliband don't want hanging around (which means they must be really dumb considering Alistair Darling). George Foulkes is a Labour MSP, for crying out loud. Wendy is a very poor leader in charge of an equally poor opposition.

Wendy is nowhere near the parlimentarian that Alex Salmond is. I'd be very suprised if she ever lays a glove on him at First Ministers Questions. He's far and away the most talented politician in the Scottish Parliament. Tony Bliar was the same. No matter how bad things got, he'd destroy the Torys at PMQs in London. Despite everything, he was the most effective parliamentary performer in the Commons. Labour wouldn't be half as badly off now as they are with Bliar in charge, purely because he'd radiate far more confidence than Brown's mob do. The other problem Alexander has is that her reputation was badly damaged by the funding scandal last year. It'd be hard for her to attack SNP sleaze when anyone can turn round and say, "What's the problem? You didn't resign when it happened to you."

That being said, I don't think it was such a bad idea to try to hammer the referendum issue - however badly it was executed. It would have helped if she had given a heads up to the rest of the party, for instance. The SNP don't want to bring the issue forward from 2010 because they'd lose a referendum today. They're much happier with the idea of a David Cameron government in Westminster trying to rein in Holyrood and stirring up anti-English feeling before a plebiscite. It'd give them a better chance to win. So trying to force the issue at a time the government are uncomfortable with isn't that bad in principle.

The thing is, Gordon Brown threw her under a bus as soon as it hit the news, totally negating any positive spin Labour could generate. Instead of it being about SNP indecision and vacillation - which is what they were looking for - the story became about Labour indecision and incoherence. It was basically screwed up by Wendy not telling anyone and Number 10 shooting it down in flames at the first opportunity. Gordon doesn't want any vote he could concievably do badly in at the moment. Which means he's played into the:confused: SNP's hands. They want the same thing. If it happens, he wants it in 2010 so it won't be his problem any more.

So now Labour are made to look very silly while they lie through their teeth in the press about how great the relationship between London and Edinburgh is. Cameron makes hay at Westminster and everyone in the Scottish Parliament gets to queue up to take bites out of Wendy.

It's been catastrophic for them.


Pretty much what he said.... :agree:

Of course, it doesn't help Wendy that half her pathetic Labour group are either after her job or in cahoots with someone else who's after her job.

Or that Annabelle Goldie is much more impressive in debate and in the media than she is....

But then, who isn't?

Oh yes - Iain Gray. :devil:

[zlatan]

From the perspective of someone who's not very much clued up on politics the only thing that will stop independence come the referendum is the power of the red tops imo, there coverage and headlines the day of last years election were disgraceful but people (idiots) still pander to them and go on there word.

[TheBall'sRound]

From the perspective of someone who's not very much clued up on politics the only thing that will stop independence come the referendum is the power of the red tops imo, there coverage and headlines the day of last years election were disgraceful but people (idiots) still pander to them and go on there word.

While there's no doubt that the red tops have a great influence, especially amongst the working classes, I think that the Record/Sun were genuinely stunned that the SNP won a majority in the Scottish election. The only paper that backed the Nationalist campaign was the Herald - imagine what the majority might have been if the red tops HAD backed it.

There other consideration to keep in mind is that the print media is on a serious decline just now. All papers have seen substantial drops in advertising revenue and the number of paper titles available is liable to decrease over the next 5-10 years. This will inevitably lead to more people running to the more established (unionist) papers but also a further rise in those using other forms (tv, internet) and a rise in those who remain "uninformed".

The more forms of opinion and debate a person reads the less likely they are to be led by the nose.

[Hiber-nation]

As well as being inept she is a truly horrible person.

Never thought I would ever switch to SNP but Wendy has managed to persuade me.

[Expecting Rain]

As well as being inept she is a truly horrible person.

Never thought I would ever switch to SNP but Wendy has managed to persuade me.

I used to vote for Labour before they became the New Conservatives, only one thing annoys me more than Wendy Alexander regarding politics in this country and that is the entire Liberal Democratic Party.

[Phil D. Rolls]

As well as being inept she is a truly horrible person.

Never thought I would ever switch to SNP but Wendy has managed to persuade me.

Personally i think the ability to eat a banana sideways shouldn't be a factor.

[steakbake]

I used to vote for Labour before they became the New Conservatives, only one thing annoys me more than Wendy Alexander regarding politics in this country and that is the entire Liberal Democratic Party.

fence sitters of ther highest order.

does anyone else have a fleeting respect for annabell goldie? she comes across as an honest politician. or at least, as honest a politician as you can find. still wouldn't vote for her party, but if she was a local MSP, you can see how she might appeal.

[Phil D. Rolls]

fence sitters of ther highest order.

does anyone else have a fleeting respect for annabell goldie? she comes across as an honest politician. or at least, as honest a politician as you can find. still wouldn't vote for her party, but if she was a local MSP, you can see how she might appeal.

I've always thought she was barking mad myself. No evidence, she just looks it.

[Dashing Bob S]

I'm an ex Labour voter but talentless and charmless machine politicians like Alexander, who carry nothing but that smug sense of entitlement, have been thoroughly instrumental in changing me to SNP.

[JimBHibees]

I'm an ex Labour voter but talentless and charmless machine politicians like Alexander, who carry nothing but that smug sense of entitlement, have been thoroughly instrumental in changing me to SNP.

Couldnt agree more. Same for me.